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In my pre kids life I worked doing medical research in both an academic and hospital setting. When I got pregnant with my first child I was working at Texas Children’s Hospital and every week I saw children who were coming to the facility to be treated for a range of horrible illnesses. I began to wonder if ALL kids were afflicted with one problem or another since there seemed to be so many of them at the hospital. I worried for the health of my unborn child right up until he was born and the doctor gave him a clean bill of health. There are so many illnesses that can affect human beings that we have no control over. Sure, we can watch our weight, exercise and eat healthy but that doesn’t mean we won’t be diagnosed with an illness. Some days, all we can do is keep our fingers crossed and pray that our loved ones stay healthy. There is a little bit of hope, however! Nowadays, science has advanced to the point that genetic testing allows us to get a glimpse into certain factors that can effect our own health, as well as that of our future children.
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Simple Genetic Testing from 23andMe
Every single person’s DNA controls a huge array of factors that include things as simple as hair and eye color or something as serious as a genetic disease. Without understanding our DNA we may not have the full picture when it comes to our health and that of any children we may have. There is an easy way to get a closer look at our DNA with 23andMe genetic testing. How does this service work? Don’t worry, there is no need to even go to a laboratory to get a glimpse inside your DNA. Just order the kit from the 23andMe website and when it arrives, register your kit information online. Then, you just provide a small sample of saliva in a special collection tube (in other words, just spit in the cup!) and send the sample back for analysis. You will have your results in about 6 to 8 weeks. Not only can this genetic testing provide you with a more in depth look at your basic health but it can also provide you with insights into your ancestry and genealogy as well.
Knowing what type of genetic markers you carry can influence a lot of choices in your life. You may want to discuss lifestyle changes with your doctor that can help keep you healthy. Genetic testing may help you make decisions in regards to family planning as well. 23andMe can provide reports on over 240 health conditions and traits as well as over 40 different inherited diseases. And don’t worry….23andMe takes your privacy VERY seriously! You can use a pseudonym for testing if you want and none of your information will be given to outside parties unless required by law or you give your written permission.
If you are curious about your ancestry or worried about what your DNA might be hiding in terms of your health I recommend you research genetic testing.
I was selected for this opportunity as a member of Clever Girls Collective and the content and opinions expressed here are all my own.
Diane is a professional blogger and nationally certified pharmacy technician at Good Pill Pharmacy. She earned her BS in Microbiology at the University of New Hampshire and has worked in cancer research, academics, and biotechnology. Concern over the growing incidence of human disease and the birth of her children led her to begin living a more natural life. She quickly realized that the information she was learning along the way could be beneficial to many others and started blogging and freelance writing to share this knowledge with others. Learn more about her HERE.
I like that they let you use a pseudonym.
I think this has both positive and negative aspects…
While it’s awesome to know you’re predisposed to certain health risks based on DNA, I think having the knowledge may prevent some people from doing XYZ based on fear… Knowledge is always power. But acting (or not) out of fear of what ‘might be’ can mean missing out on a lot of fun life experience. I’m kind of torn of this one
true, with knowledge may come uncertainty. While it can be helpful in some cases I understand the hesitancy people feel too.
It’s amazing how far the medical industry has come to be able to do this from home.
This sounds really cool and I am surprised that it is so easy and relatively inexpensive. I always thought that tests that give you this kind of information cost thousands of dollars. $99 is totally reasonable for me to find out about my ancestry.
I can definitely see the benefits to this, it’s amazing how far technology with medicine has come. The only thing I would worry about is if by some small chance it got mixed up. I think I would personally rather do it in a lab if I were ever in this situation, but this is great for people who may not have the work hours to get to a lab.